By TCN News,
New Delhi: The Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), Mumbai has condemned the attack on innocent Hindus in Bangladesh over the past week and Christians in Pakistan yesterday by a angry mob of 7,000 and more. CJP appealed to all Indians and the wider human rights community to join them in condemning these dastardly attacks.
CJP, under Teesta Setalvad, has tirelessly been working for the victims of the Gujarat riots.
While condemning the targeted and violent attacks against Bangladesh’s minority Hindu community, the CJP called upon the Indian government and international organisations to ensure that the Bangladeshi authorities provide them with better protection.
There have been disturbing reports that individuals taking part in the protests called by right wing Islamic parties (including reportedly led by Jamaat-e-Islaami, Bangladesh) have vandalised more than 40 Hindu temples across Bangladesh, scores of Hindu homes and shops have also been burned down, leaving hundreds homeless.
The attacks have come in the wake of protests to implement the findings of the country’s ongoing war crimes tribunal, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). The role of the Jamaat-e-Islaami-Bangladesh has been pointed to in the recent anti-minority attacks.
In Pakistan, regarding the targeted attack against a group of Christians in Lahore, the CJP has urged the Indian government and international organisations to lend voice to their demand that the Punjab government should have given the Christian community more protection in Lahore following the false allegations of blasphemy.
A press statement by CJP said, “all of us condemn these dastardly attacks and call for the immediate punishment of those guilty. It is long overdue that the demands of human rights activists from all countries in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal. Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Burma and Bhutan are met and a South Asian Commission/Authority for Human Rights Protection is established that looks into all instances of cross border human rights violations, atrocities against women and children and trafficking, caste atrocities and attacks on identities, ethnicities and religious minorities.”
Amnesty International has also expressed its concern over the targeted attacks on minorities and has urged the ban Bangladesh government to provide them better protection.“The Hindu community in Bangladesh is at extreme risk, in particular at such a tense time in the country. It is shocking that they appear to be targeted simply for their religion. The authorities must ensure that they receive the protection they need,” Abbas Faiz, Amnesty’s Researcher told the media.